[The contribution of conventional EMG to the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with bulbar symptoms].
BACKGROUND
We presented here the results of quantitative electromyographic (EMG) study from 61 patients affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with bulbar symptomatology at the time of study.


METHODS
Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether the illness started with bulbar manifestations alone or with predominant neuromuscular weakness.


RESULTS
Electromyography was performed on the abductor pollicis brevis, deltoideus or biceps brachii and tibialis anterior muscles (target muscles). In the first study the EMG was abnormal in more than 90% of the patients regardless to the duration of the illness and muscular weakness distribution. In the follow-up study the EMG was abnormal in all the patients lacking significant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative EMG appeared as a very useful tool for the early diagnosis of ALS with bulbar manifestations. We found a correlation between the alterations of the different EMG parameters with the natural evolution of the illness.
Calleja
J
J
Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, H.U. Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, España.
Valle
E
E
Fernández
J L
JL
de Pablos
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Aportación del EMG convencional al diagnóstico de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica con síntomas bulbares.